In the three-year period, the target energy savings is 34 million kilowatt-hours; that’s equivalent to the amount of electricity used by more than 4,500 Massachusetts homes in a given year.
As a part of the project, Nstar will work with MIT to conduct heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, and lab systems improvements, and lighting fixture and control upgrades, in addition to other steps.
MIT Efficiency Forward will also have student engagement facilitated by the program’s Student Advisory Group. MIT Energy Initiative’s (MITEI) Campus Energy Task Force will use MIT’s campus as a living laboratory to offer students and faculty research, educational and learning opportunities.
The company said that through close collaboration with the MITEI Energy Education Task Force, project-based coursework for freshman, sophomore and student teams will be developed to help to advance the goals of MIT Efficiency Forward.
A campaign to encourage the MIT community to reduce energy consumption will be a key component of the program, and students will help develop approaches to measure, monitor and verify those savings.
Nstar predicts that over the three years, MIT Efficiency Forward will provide MIT with savings in excess of $50m through a combination of new construction, renovations, and both electric and gas incentive programs to promote new synergies.
Tom May, chairman, president and CEO of Nstar, said: “What we are launching with MIT is a bold new plan for confronting climate change and a proposal to officially establish energy efficiency as the ‘first fuel’ in Massachusetts.
“Aggressive goals require aggressive action, and MIT is demonstrating its leadership in campus sustainability once again. They are taking advantage of every energy-saving tool Nstar has available and I’m confident the results will be a model — and an inspiration — for all other customers to follow.”
